Railway



April 28,. 1931.

H. w. SANFORD RAILWAY Filed Oct. 1. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

.ATTORNEY 7/ 4w. BY

April 28, 1931. H. w. SANFORD 5 RAILWAY Filed Oct. 1. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 'INVENTOR'.

H TTORNEY H. w. SANFORD.

RAILWAY April 28, 1931.

Filed Oct. 1, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 II\:(VENTQR.

7? 44k BY 5 L: mew ATTORNEY.

'APril 31 H. w. SANFORD 1,802,445

RAILWAY V Filed Oct. 1, 1927 4 Sheets-Sht 4 SE; 2 I r v INVENTOR.

ay/Z1 A TTORNEY Fatented Apr. 28, 1931 warren STATES HUGH W. SANFORD, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE RAILWAY Application filed October 1, 1927.

My improvement relates particularly to railways in which provision is made for dumping loose material through the bottom of a car at a chosen point on the track of a railway, the bottom or floor of the car con- 10 of the material in the car.

For a similar invention, reference is made to Letters Patent of the United States, No. 1,268,890, granted to me June 4, 1918.

In the car of that patent, there arethree bottom doors, one being hinged to one car axle, another being hinged to the other car axle, and the third being hinged to a rod or shaft supported at the forward end of the car.

The object of this invention is to provide means other than the axles for hinging the first and second. doors. Normally the rear door is held in horizontal position by latch mechanism which is to be released by means located at the discharge station or tipple, that means acting when the car reaches that station, as described in the above-mentioned Letters Patent.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a car and track structure illustrating my improvement, the end sills or bumpers being omitted;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the left hand or rear end of the same structure;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal upright section on the line, 3-3, of Fig. 2, looking toward the left Fig. 4 is a transverse upright section on the line l4, of Figs. 1 and 3, looking toward the left, parts being omitted;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section near the line, l-4, of Figs. 1 and 3;

Figs. 6 to 16, inclusive, are other sectional views similar to Fig. 5, but showing the mechanism in other forms;

Fig. 17 is a view looking at Fig. 16 from the right.

Referring to said drawings, A, A are track rails resting on ties, A1, and piers,A2. B,.B are ordinary car wheels applied to the ends Serial No. 223,356.

of the axles, C, C. 'D is the body of the car. D1, D1 are side sills forming portions of the car. The ends of these sills are oined by the end sills or bumpers not shown). In the form shown, these side sills are metal channels. Boxes, C1, seated in the channels of the side sills receive the axles, C. (Figs. a, 5 and 16) The end of the car at the right, as viewed in the drawings, is the forward end of the car, and it is to be understood that the car moves forward for dumping and closing the doors after the load has been discharged. The discharge is downward between the rails, A, and the place at which the discharge is effected is called the dumping station or tipple. Beneath the rails, A, the material discharged from the car may be received by a chute or another car or any other suitable device, notshown.

Three doors, E, are placed in series to form the bottom of the car. Since the rearmost o f these three doors controls the series, it may be regarded as .the first of the series and for that reason be described first. Said door has at its forward edge three pairs of hinge members, C2 and C3, as hereinafter described. At its rear edge, two bars or arms, E2, are'attached to the lowerface of the door and project a little way rearward of said rear edge. On the rear end of the car body and in anrupright plane transverse to the length of the car body are a pair of large bell cranks, E3, pivoted at E4, to the car body. Each of said bell cranks has a hook, E5, adapted to extend beneath the adjacent bar or arm, E2, each bell crank being so arranged as to bring its pivot, E l, above its hook, whereby the arm bearing the hook may swing toward and from the upright, middle, longitudinal plane E5, said door is held firmly in its upper or closed position. And this condition continues until said hooks are moved outward far enough to allow the bars, E2, to descend. Said hooks are made to move outward by raising the horizontal arms, E6, of the bell cranks. To cause said arms to rise automatically when the car reaches the dumping station, a cam member, A3, is placed at each side of the track in position to engage the lower edge of the adjacent latch arm, E6, and cause said arm to ride upward on said cam member during the further forward movement of the car, the arm, E6, being extended far enough to bring said cam member into the path of said arm. It is to be observed that said door will not become released unless both arms, E6, are raised. Hence said door will not ordinarily become released through the accidental raising of one of said arms by means other than one of said cam members.

Said door has at'its front edge three pairs of hinges each comprising an upper block, C2, and a lower strap, C3. Rivets, C 1, extend through said strap and said block and the door, E, and bind said members to each other. The under part of the block, C2, is made concave to receive the upper part of a shaft, F, which is parallel to and lower than the adjacent axle, C, and is approximately as long as the distance between the inner face of one side sill and the inner face of the other side sill.

In Figs. 4 and 5, each end of the shaft, F, rests in the lower part of an upright hanger, F1, which is placed against the inner face of the adjacent side sill far enough forward of the axle to pass the latter. Rivets, F2, extend through said hanger and the upright web of the adjacent side sill. i

This construction allows placing the hinge line of the door lower than the axle. Furthermore, the door is not supported on a member which rotatesnot on the axle, C, which is sometimes made rotatable in cars of this general type. Thus these hinge members, C2 and G3, are not subjected to wear due to such rotation.

In Fig. 6, the structure is the same as in Fig. 5, excepting that the box, 7 1, is omitted and the shaft, F, is absent and a stub, G1, is made integral with the hanger. G, and the hinge members, C2 and C8 are applied to the stub, it being understood that the structure is the same at the other side of the car.

In Fig. 7, the hanger, F1, is long enough to extend below the side sill and allow the shaft, F, to project through the hanger and below the side sill.

In Fig. 8, the structure is the same as in Fig. 6, excepting that the upper end of the hanger is extended in the form of a hook, G2, reaching across the upper flange of the side sill and secured to said flange by a rivet F2.

In Fig. 9, the structure is the same as in Fig. 8, excepting that the hanger, G, is extended downward below the side sill and receives a shaft, F, which extends through the hanger and below the side sill, the side sill receiving the hinge members, C2 and C3, as described in connection with the other figures.

In Fig. 10, the hanger, H, is not attached to the side sill in any manner. On the side sill rests a wood sill, H1, on which is a part of a wooden side wall, H2. The hanger, H, extends over the inner face of the side sill and over the inner faces of the wood sill and a part of the wooden side wall. Bolts, H3, join this hanger to the wood sill and to the side wall. The lower part of the hanger supports the shaft, F, which supports the hinge members, C2 and C3.

In Fig. 11, the parts are the same as in- Fig. 10, excepting that the shaft, F, is absent and a horizontal stud, H4, is made integral with the hanger, H, and supports the hinge members, O2 and C3.

In Fig. 12, the hanger, I, is not connected with the side sill in any manner. A wooden side wall, I1,.rests on the upper flange of the side sill. The hanger extends from the inner face of the side sill and the inner face of said wall. A strap, I2, extends. over the outer face of the side sill and is secured there- .to by rivets, I3, and extends outward across the upper flange of the side sill and upward over the outer face of said wall. Rivets or bolts, I4, extend through said strap and said wall and the upper part of the hanger, I,

for binding said strap and said wall and said hanger to each other. A horizontal stud, I5, is integral with the lower end of the hanger, I, and supports the hinge members, C3.

In Fig. 18, an inclined metal plate wall, J1, has its lower edge flanged horizontally and seated on the upper flange of the side sill and secured to said flange by means of a rivet, J2. The hanger, J, extends over the inner face of the side sill andover a part of the inner face of the side wall, J1. A strap, J 3, extends over the outer face of the side sill and outward over the upper flange of said sill and thence upward to meet the outer face of the side wall. A rivet. J5, extends through the upper part of said. strap and through said wall and through the upper part of the hanger to. bind said three members to each other. Rivets, J 4:, join the strap and sill. Thelower end of the hanger, J supports a shaft, J6, which receives the hinge members, C2 and C3,

In Fig. 14, a wooden side wall, K3, rests on the upper flange of the side sill. A-hanger, K, extends over the inner face of the side sill and the inner face of said wall and is secured to the web of the side sill by'mean of rivets, K1, and is secured to said wall by means of bolts or rivets, K2. The hanger is extended upward indefinitely over the inner face of said wall to perform the function of a strap for anchoring the wall to the side sill as well as to serve as a hanger for the shaft, K4. The hanger is shown as extending below the level of the side sill, the shaft, K4, reaching outward through the hanger below the side sill. The shaft supports the hinge members, C2 and C3.

In Fig. 15, an inclined plate metal wall, L1, has its lower edgerfianged outward horizontally and seated on the upper flange of the side sill and secured thereto by rivets, L2. The hanger, L, extends over the inner face of the side sill and is free therefrom and extends upward over the inner face of the side wall and is secured to said wall by means of rivets, L3. The hanger extends upward over said wall indefinitely and performs the function of a strap as well as serving as a hanger for supporting the shaft, L-it.

In all the preceding forms, the hinge line of the door is at one side of the upright plane of the axle, C, the hanger being approximately straight and passing at one side of the axle.

In the form illustrated by Figs. 16 and 17, the axial line of the door is below the axle, C, and in the upright plane of the axle. In this case the hanger, M, is of Uform,. the arms, M1, extending upward at opposite sides of the axle and over the inner face of the side sill and having their upper ends bent horizontally outward and resting on. the upper flange of the side sill. Rivets, M2, extend through said horizontal parts ofsaid arms and through the upper flange of the side sill to bind the hanger arms to-said flange. The lower end of this U-form hanger extends below .the side sill far enough to allow the shaft, M3, to extend through the hanger and into the space below the side sill.

It has already been stated herein that the doors are not hinged to rotary axles which would subject the hangers and the axles to wear and consequent weakening.

It is also to be noted that the hangers rest closely against the car body side structures and are of sufiicient length to make contact with said side structure over a large'area, which facilitates firm attachments to the side structures. That facilitates fixing the hangers to the side structures by means of rivetsto the forward part of the car body and havor bolts.

Thus placing the hangers closely against the faces of the body side structures facili tates bending the upper ends of the hangers outward over adjacent parts of the side structures, as shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15,

16 and 17. Outward bending of the hangers in contact with the side structures aids in giving to the hangers a strong engagement with the side structures.

In Figs. 8, 9, 16 and 17, the upper end of the hanger hooks over the upper face of the. side sill, D1. Furthermore, in all the forms, the hanger is given lateral support against the inner face of the side sills. Giving these hangers this extended contact and I support allows making the hangers of relatively thin metal, whereby the hangers occupy small space in horizontal cross section and thus avoid objectionable reduction of capacity in the lower part of the car body.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of car body side structures in which are side sills,axles supported by the side sills, wheels carrying said axles, fixed hanger members extending transversely over the side structures adjacent and below the level of the axles and making extended lateral contact with the side structures and secured to the side structures, horizontal door supporting means on said hanger members, a metal plate rear bottom door having its forward portion hinged to the rear door sup porting means, releasable means for supporting the rearedge of said door when the latter is in the closed position,,and a second metal plate bottom door having its forward portion hinged to the next forward door supporting means and having its rear edge normally supported by the forward edge of said rear door in position for release from the rear door when the latter'is turned downward into the discharge position.

2. The combination of car body side structures in which are side sills, axles supported by the side sills, wheels carrying said axles, fixed hanger members extending transversely over the side structures adjacent and below the level of the axles and making extended lateral contact with the side structures and secured to the side structures, horizontal door supporting means on said hanger members,

a metal plate rear bottom door having its forward portion hinged to the rear door supporting means, releasable means for supporting the rear edge of said door when the latter is in the closed position, a second metal plate bottom door having its forward portion hinged to the next forward door supporting means and having its rear edge normally supported by the forward edge of said rear door in position for release from the rear door when the latter is turned downward into the discharge position, and a third metal plate door having its forward edge hinged ing its rear edge normally resting upon the forward edge of the second door.

The combination of car body side structures in'which are side sills, axles supported by the side sills, wheels carrying said axles,

structures and secured to the side structures,

horizontal door supporting means on said hanger members, a metal plate rear bottom door having its forward portion hinged to the rear door supporting means,.releasable means for sup, ing the rear edge of said door when the'latter is in the closed position, and a second metalfplate bottom door having its forward port-ion hinged to the next forward door supporting means and: having its rear edge normally supported by the forward edge of said rear door in position for release from the rear door when the latter is turned downward into the discharge position.-

t. The combination. of a car body in which are-side sills, axles supported by the side sills, wheels carrying said axles, fixed hanger member extending transversely over the side sills adjacent and below the level of the axles and the side sills, horizontal door supporting means on said hanger members, a metal plate rear bottom door having its forward portion hinged to therear door supporting means, releasable means for supporting the rear edgelof said door when the latter is in the closed position, and a second metal plate bottom door having its forward portion hinged to the next forward door supporting means and having its rear edge normally supported by the forward edge of said rear door in position for release from the rear door when the latter is turned downward into the discharge position,

- 5. The combination of car body side structures in which are side sills, axles supported by the side sills, wheels carrying said axles, fixed hanger members placed adjacent the j axles and extending transversely over and upward 'of the side sills and making extended lateral Contact with the side structures and secured to the sidestructures, horizontal door supporting means on said hanger members, a metal plate rear bottom door having its forward 7Cltl011 hinged to the rear door supporting means, releasable means for supporting the rear edge of said door when the latteris in the closed position, and a second metalplate bottom door having its forward portion hinged to the next forward door sup-- porting means and having its rear edge normally supported y the forward edge of said rear door in position for release from the rear door when the latter is turned downard into the discharge position, 1

(3. The combination of car body side structures in which are side sills, axles supported by the side sills, wheels carryim said axles, fixed hanger members placed adjacent the axles and extending transversely over and upward of the side sills and below and above the level of the axles and making extended lateral contact with the side structures and secured to the side structures, horizontal door supporting means on said hanger members, a metal plate rear bottom door having its forward portion hinged to the rear door supporting means, releasable means for support 1 m the rear ed -e of said door when tne latter Q 15 111 the closed position, and a second metal plate bottom door having 1ts forward portion hinged to the next forward door supporting means and havin its rear edge normally supported by the forward edge of said rear door in position for release from the rear door when the latter is turned downward into the discharge position.

7. The combination of a car body in which are side sills, axles supported by the side sills, wheels carrying said axles, fixed hanger member placed adjacent the axles and extending transversely over and upward of the side sills and below the side sills, horizontal door supporting means on said hanger members, a metal plate rear bottom door having its forward portion hinged to the rear door supporting means, releasable means for supporting the rear edge of said door when the latter is in the closed position, and a second metal plate bottom doorhaving its forward portion hinged to the next forward door supporting means and having its rear edge normally supported by the forward edge of said rear door in position for release fromthc rear door when the latter is turned downward into the discharge position.

8. The combination of a car body in which are side sills, axles supported by the side sills, wheels carrying said axles, fixed hanger members extending transversely over the side sills adjacent and below the level of the side sills, horizontal door supporting shafts resting in said hanger members and projecting through the hanger members and under the side sills,

a, metal plate rear bottom door having its forward portion hinged to therear door supporting means, releasable means for supporting the rear edge of said door when the latter is in the closed position, and a second metal plate bottom door having its forward portion hinged to the next forward door sup porting means and having its rear edge normally supported bythe forward edge of said rear door in position for release from the rear door when the latter is turned downward into the discharge position.

9. The combination of a car body in which are side sills and side wall structures above the side sills, axle supported by the side sills, wheels carrying said axles, members constituting straps and hangers and extending over and secured to the side wall structures and extending transversely over the side sills adj acent and below the level of the axles, horizontal supporting means on the lower ends of said strap and hunger members, a metal plate rear bottom'door having its forward portion hinged to the rear door supporting means, releasable means for supporting the rear edge of said door when the latter is in the closed position, and a second metal plate bottom door having its forward portion hinged to the next forward door supporting means and having its rear edge normally supported by the forward edge of said rear door in position for release from the rear door when the latter is turned downward into the discharge position.

a 10. The combination of car body side structures, axles supported by the side structures, wheels carrying said axles, fixed upright hanger members making extended lateral contact with the side structures and secured to said structures and extending below the level of said axles, horizontal door supporting means on said hanger members, a plate metal rear bottom door having its forward portion hinged to the rear door supporting means, a second plate metal bottom door having its forward portion hinged to the next forward door supporting means, and means for holding said doors in the closed position.

11. The combination of car body side structures, axles supported by the side structures, wheels carrying said axles, fixed upright hanger members making extended lateral contact with'the side structures and secured to said structures and extending below the level of said axles, horizontal shaft-form door supporting means on said hanger members, a plate metal rear bottom door having its for- 3Q ward portion hinged to the rear door supporting means, a second plate metal bottom door having its forward portion hinged to the next forward door supporting means, and means for holding said doors in the closed po- 35 sition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name, this 25th day of June, in the year one thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven.

HUGH W. SANFORD. 

